Review: The Rules for Breaking (The Rules for Disappearing #2) by Ashley Elston

The Rules for Breaking (The Rules for Disappearing #2) by Ashley Elston

Publication Date: May 20, 2014
Page Count: 309
Published by: Disney-Hyperion
Source: eArc received from publisher in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Who do you trust when no one is what they seem? The gripping sequel to contemporary, romantic YA thriller, The Rules for Disappearing.

Anna Boyd almost lost her life to get what she wanted most in the world: freedom.

But just when it seems that her family has finally escaped Witness Protection, the illusion that Anna could resume a normal life comes crashing down.

The deadly man Anna knows as Thomas is still on the loose, and now he's using her as a pawn in a dangerous game with the drug cartel determined to silence her forever. When Thomas and a mysterious masked man capture not only Anna but also her fragile younger sister and her boyfriend, Anna decides it's time to break all the rules-even if it means teaming up with the lesser of two evils.

Anna will do whatever it takes to protect the people she loves and win her life back once and for all. But her true enemies are hidden in plain sight. Before long, Anna will learn that putting her trust in anyone may be the last mistake she ever makes.

The Rules for Breaking had so many twists and turns and shocking developments that it kept me on the edge of my seat. I never knew what to expect next, I just knew it was going to be entertaining! It was incredibly well written and had a great pace. I liked it just as much as I did the first book, The Rules for Disappearing.

Just when Anna gets settled into her new life and thinks that all of the hiding and secrets were over, the threats to her safety start back up. But Anna doesn't have only herself to worry about this time, she also has Ethan and her sister's lives in her hands as well. Anna stepped up and tried to protect the people she loved, and I liked that about her. She was willing to fight more this time around, and she didn't sit back and let things happen to her. Anna's 'Rules for Disappearing' were brought back for this book, but they were updated with the more appropriate 'Rules for Breaking', and they added a bit of comedy and snark.

We didn't get to see as much of Ethan as I would have preferred, but he still managed to be all kinds of cute and swoony, even though there wasn't any time for romance in the story. I loved how sweet and protective he was of Anna and Teeny, and how he never wanted to give up and stop helping them.

The man we know as Thomas - his behavior was all over the place and he was more dangerous than ever. I couldn't figure him out and wondered if he was bi-polar or just crazy because of his extreme behavior. He also had a sidekick this time to help carry out his dastardly deeds, an unknown 'masked man' whose identity was quite shocking. Anna and Ethan found themselves in quite a bit of trouble, and they weren't able to make good decisions because they really didn't know who to trust. The parents were neutralized (quite handily I might add) very early in the story, so they were no help at all.

I thought The Rules for Breaking was quite thrilling at times and very entertaining. I often worried for Anna and Ethan's safety and wondered how in the heck they would get out of the situations they constantly found themselves in. This book was definitely darker in tone than the first book, and it also had more danger and intrigue. I loved the plot, even if it was pretty much unrealistic. If you can suspend your disbelief for a few hours of entertainment, then you should really read this series.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars